Hours after North Carolina state House Speaker Thom Tillis beat Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s preferred candidate in the state’s GOP Senate primary, Paul put out a statement Tuesday night, calling on Republicans to rally behind Tillis in the general election.

Paul campaigned yesterday in Charlotte, North Carolina, for Greg Brannon, who failed to force the state House speaker, Tillis, into a runoff.

“Now that the primary is over, it is time for our side to unite to defeat the Democrat who cast the deciding vote for Obamacare, Kay Hagan, in November,” Paul said in a statement sent to reporters by his PAC. “I endorse Thom Tillis and look forward to working with him in the Senate. I congratulate my friend Greg Brannon on a well fought race and encourage all the candidates to unite for victory in November.”

Paul upset top national Republicans by making the 11th hour foray to Charlotte, which they feared could force a blood-letting, two-month runoff that would make it harder to pick up the must-win seat in November.